Process of manufacturing constructional material



tatentecl Feb. 9, 1932 STATES PATENT OFFICE JULIGIERT 'L. FISCHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE FACQURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION PHILIP CAREY MAN U- OF OHIO PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING CONfi'lRUCTIONAL MATERIAL No Brawin g.

Elly invention relates to the process of sling; constructional material and other a: icicles of manufacture consisting of mixing a waterproof binder with component parts ot a rubber bearing shrub and forming said nib re into various articles of manufacture.

1 invention relates to a homogeneous iuixtin'e, a heterogeneous mixture, a substantial thickness of the body structure to be termed with reinforcing means, and the comnose itseil. A lily invention relates to the process of feminin a composition, or mixture, or con srruc" 'onal material out of said mixture. The tuition a l material may be roofing sheets, floor cm'erii rail filler, expansion joints, premolded sewer pipe belts, plastic tubing, hashing}; blocks, paving blocks, insulation brick, in fact any article of manufacture which can be created from this composition.

lily invention relates to the process of :l'crminp a mixture 01" waterproof binder and shredded guayule shrub, the plant from vhirh ayule rubber is obtained being the .r in tll Gi litfttll'll.

it. he obi ct of my invention is to produce an monomically termed article of manutaciurc which s greater e asticity than ordi :narily waterprimted materials former, thru the rn' n of fibrous material and a waterproof 1' or, where the waterproof binder a first be mixed with shredded fibrous ial. and then with other reclaimed, ::-ru h, or scrap rubber. The old process is a 1 process and greatly extended, as first binder, than the shredded fibrous mal nu 1st be prepared, and the rubber must come thru the utilization of manufac "bbcr, prepared crepe, coagulated rubicured from uncoagulated latex or re Plilllhfztl rubber.

There are also other shrubs which are rubber-containing, in which the rubber is present in the plant in a coagulated state, or where the rubber can be eoagulated in the plant by shredding; the rubber containing shrub or plant. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the iarticular shrub enumerated,

as but to any shredded fibrous material or rub- Application filed November 11, 192?. Serial No. 232,717.

ber containing plant in which the rubber has coagulated.

This shrub is native to Mexico, southern California, and Texas, and other rubber hearing shrubs are native to Mexico and the United States. There are other rubber con tain ng shrubs in other parts of the world.

i y invention has to do with the mixture of the shredded material in its various sta es. The waterproof binder may be a binder, such as blown asphalt, bituminous binders, rubberresin binders, in fact any waterproof binder which may be suitable for constructional purposes. a The material which is mixed with this binder will be this rubber containing shrub. Much of the shrub will be in shredded term and many loosely obtained coagulated rubber particles may be apparentin the mixture, it being the object of my invention to impart to this constructional material rubber-dike qualities without taking the rubber thru the various expensive steps heretofore employed. The bales from the field are opened and the shrub fed thru shredders and the shredded mass is floated in water thru skimming tanks, where the rubber and light bark float and the heavy wood fiber sinks, so that there may be four as involved in this invention, viz., the rubber containing shrub may simply be fed thru corrugated rolls or crushing rolls, and the resultant mass furthershredded or cut into desired form, and this material mixed with waterproof binder, or the rubber particles which float upon the water may be used in a mixture with the waterproof binder, or the bark which floats on the surface with the rubber may be used with the waterproof binder, or the wood fiber which sinks in the floating process may be used as a mixture in combination with a waterproof binder.

It may be desirable not to utilize the material in any kind of a premoistened or wet state, but to utilize it in its natural state after crushing and grinding. If the material has length and linear dimension then its binding qualities will be greater than it it is merely in a simple granulated form. The rubber content may be left in the wood or the bark where it is dominant, and utilized barytes, fullers earth, clay, or other mineral materials may be utilized in modified proportions, preferably not exceeding five or ten per cent. The proportion of fiber in the mix true will approximate anywhere up to fifty per cent. In most cases it will be desirable to make the mixture with the waterproof binder at least preponc erating, but I do not wish to be limited to a preponderance of binder as there may be greater percentage of the rubber containing shrub than the waterproof binder, depending upon how hardand tough the article is to be made.

My invention comprises the process of forming a mixture composed of any one of the various parts of a rubber containing shrub as long as the rubber particles have not been milled or prepared in slab form for the market, i. e. the parts being as derived from the shredding or separating process. In the final analysis of the process of separating the rub ber, salt is added to the water and the bark then sinks and the rubber particles fioat, so that it can be readily seen that in the various processes most all of the physical part of the rubber containing shrub can be separated and utilized in its distinct variations.

Likewise the plant may be separated thru chemical processes in which the rubber may be separated out from the plant thru a causticizing process or solvent, in which the shrub proper may be softened and be better adapted to mixtures.

I am not particularly concerned with the process of separating out the parts or the means utilized in separating out the rubber containing shrub, my invention being in utilizing a rubber containing shrub in a mix ture which obtains the advantages of the rubber without going thru the expensive process of first forming the rubber into crepe or slabs forthe market, and is a distinctly more basic process than shredding old rubber tires or mixing reclaimed rubber with waterproof binder, which I disclaim in this invention, although reclaimed rubber and old shredded rubber maybe added'as part of the compounding ingredients.

. I preferably dissolve the waterproof binder and add the rubber containing shrub with other ingredients in suitable mixing devices and mix the rubber containing shrub or any one of its component parts with the water proofbinder. The waterproof binder may be either in a heated liquidstate or in a'plastic state. Regardless of the extraction of the rubber many of the rubber particles will remain in the refuse bark or woody particles of the plant.

The contents of the guayule shrub varies in its rubber content from eight to ten or twelve per cent of refined rubber, The plant cannot be tapped and the plant is separated into its component parts by maceration in'water, this being the preferred method.

Where the rubber content of the shrub is not sufficient for the required purposes additional crude reclaimed or other rubbers may be added. It can be readily appreciated that the rubber obtained by incorporating fibrous elements or ingredients of a rubber containing shrub that this product maybe prepared more economically than where only newrubber or expensively treated reclaimed rubbers are used exclusively.

The composition of matter will have some of the qualities of rubber, willhave fibrous reinforcement and will be incorporated in a waterproof binder, imparting qualities to construction material which can be obtained extremely economically and without first re sorting to expensive processes of preparation of the raw material.

The shrub Parthenium argentatum is indigenous to Mexico, and is raised successfully in Texas and California, and no doubt can be grown successfully in other parts of the United States.

The guayule rubber is unique in that it exists in the shrub as such and not in the form of latex. The rubber occurs in the cells of the tissues of the root and stem, and is prescut to the extent of about ten per cent of the whole plant. 7

Three methods have been suggested for the separation of the rubber:

(1) The plant may be treated by boiling with caustic soda solution whereby the cellulfar tissuesare destroyed and the rubber set ree.

(2) lilxtraction of the rubber from the macerated shrub by means of a solvent.

(3) Mechanical treatment of the shrub in a pebblemill or ball mill in the presence of water, whereby the cellular matter is theintegrated. V

A fourth method or process may be by merely presenting the shrub to pressure rolls whereby fibrous material is crushed, and

this material may later be presented to shredders which will further divide the rubber containing fibrous material.

I do not wish to be limited to the particular part of the plant utilized, as I may utilize one or all parts in different proportions, determined by experiment for the purpose required.

The mixture may be presented in a plastic or flowable state to pressure means, rolls, belted rolls, extrusion machines, either individtit] ually or in combination, and thru such means formed into constructional material and different articles of manufacture.

I do not claim the process of separating the materials but claim the process of mixing a waterproof binder with one or more of the component parts of a rubber bearing shrub, the process consisting of heating the waterproof binder, incorporating in said binder as one of the compounding ingredients component parts of a rubber bearing shrub and then presenting said mixture to pressure and forming thereby a constructional material or other articles of manufacture.

A formula suitable for the preparation of this material would comprise blown bituminous material of a ductile nature seyenty-five per cent, shredded rubber containin shrub fifteen per cent, rubber granules obtained from a rubber containing shrub ten per cent. Another formula would be any suitable bindor having considerable body eighty per cent, and shredded rubber containing shrubs twenty per cent. Another formula maybe any suitable waterproofing binder having body sixty-five per cent, rubber partlcles derive d from rubber-bearing shrub five per cent, librous material secured from rubber-bearing lilll'b twenty per cent and bark derived from rubber-bearing shrub five per cent. These formulas are broadly given and show a preponderant binder. Other mixtures may be made in which the binder is not preponderant, but in which the other ingredients approximate fifty per cent and the b1nder fifty per cent, or still other formulas may be devised which show the binder as forty per cent and the other compounding ingredients as sixty per cent.

A. suitable procedure in preparing the constructional material would be to heat the l1quid binder, incorporating therein the foreign ingredients in successive stages, the liquid biiide becoming a heated, flowable, plastic as r the material is added, and this material could then be presented to suitable pressure means and formed into constructional material.

The composition of matter may be molded, pressed, rolled or otherwise formed into constructioual material. On the other hand a plastic binder may be utilized and the ingredients of the rubber-bearing shrub may be incmporated while the binder is in a plastic state and prepared in suitable devices, thorin mixed and presented to pressure or ioruiii' j means. Where the binder has been in a liquid state it would of course be reduced to a plastic state and the fiber will be incorpointed in the mixing and thoroughly mixed in suitable mixing devices before being presented to molds, pressure means, rolls or other forming devices.

Another formula would be a tough, waterproof binder seventy-live per cent, rubber particles derived from a rubber-conta ning shrub ten per cent, bark derived from a rubber containing shrub ten per cent and linear fibers five per cent.

I claim:

1. The process of forming a composition strip characterized by shredding a rubberbearing shrub and incorporating said shredded material in a waterproof binder in successive stages while the binder is in a liquid condition, reducing said binder by reason of said incorporation to a fiowable mastic condi tion by mixing and presenting said mixture to pressure means and forming an article of manufacture.

2. The process of forming a composition strip characterized by shredding a rubberbearing shrub and incorporating said shredded material in a heated, plastic, Waterproof binder in successive stages, mixing said material and presenting said mixed plastic maerial to pressure and forming same into an .ZClG of manufacture.

3. A process for forming a composition strip col-uprising the maceration of a rubberbearinq shrub, mixing macerated parts of said macerated rubber-bearing shrub with a waterproof bind er, mixing the same and. presenting the mixture to pressure means and forming various articles of manufacture.

l. The process for forming a composition strip characterized by mixing a waterproof binder with shredded material derived from a rubber-bearing shrub, and incorporating said shredded material in a waterproof binder in successive stages while the binder is in a liquid condition, reducing said binder by reason of said incorporation to a flowable mastic condition by mixing and presenting said mixture to pressure means and forming an article of mamifacture.

5. The process for forming a composition strip characterized by mixing a waterproof binder with rubber particles derived from a rubber bearing shrub, in successive stages while the binder is in a liquid condition, reducing said binder by reason of said incorporation to a flowable mastic condition by mixing and presenting said mixture to pressure means and forming an article of manufacture.

6. The process for forming a composition strip characterized by mixing a waterproof binder with coagulated rubber particles derived from a rubber bearing shrub, in successive stages While the binder is in a liquid condition, reducing said binder by reason of said incorporation to a flowable mastic condition by mixing and presenting said mixture to pressure means and forming an article of manufacture.

7. The process for forming a composition strip characterized by mixing a waterproof binder with cellular fibrous material containing particles of rubber, in successive stages while the binder is in a liquid condition, re-

ducingsaid binder by reason of said incorporation to a flowable mastic condition by mixing and presenting said mixture to pressure means and forming an article of-manufacture.

8. The process for forming a composition which comprises the mixing of a waterproof binder with fibrous material, said fibrous material having rubber in combination in its natural state, incorporating said material in the waterproof binder in successive stages while the binder is in a liquid condition, reducing said binder by reason of said incorporation to a lowable mastic condition by mixing, and presenting said mixture to pressure means and forming an article of 1nanu-' facture.

9. The process for forming a composition strip characterized by utilizing a rubber containing fibrous material derived from a rubber containing shrub, shredding said rubber containing fibrous material in a waterproof binder insuccessive stages while the binder is in a liquid condition, reducing said binder by reason of said incorporation to a fiowable mastic condition by mixing, and presenting said mixture to pressure means and forming an article of manufacture.

10. The process for forming a composition which consists in combining fibrous material, rubber and a waterproof binder in two operations, by mixing a waterproof binder with shredded material derived from a rubber bearing shrub, and incorporating said shredded material in the waterproof binder in successive stages while the binder is in a liquid condition, reducing said binder by reason of said incorporation. to a flowable mastic condition by mixing, and presenting said mixture to pressure means and forming an article of manufacture.

11. The process for forming a composition strip characterized by mixing a waterproof binder with shredded material derived from a rubber bearing shrub, and incorporating said shredded material in the heated, plastic, waterproof binder in successive stages, mixing said material and presenting said mixed plastic material to pressure, and forming same into an article of manufacture.

12. The process'for forming a composition strip characterized by mixing a waterproof binder with rubber particles derived from a rubber bearing shrub, and incorporating said rubber particles in the heated, plastic, waterproof binder in successive stages, mixing said material and presenting said mixed plastic material to pressure, and forming same into an article of manufacture.

13. The process for forming a composition strip characterized by mixing a waterproof binder with coagulated rubber particles derived from a rubber bearing shrub, and incorporating said rubber particles in the heated, plastic, waterproof binder in successive stages, mixing said material and presenting said mixed plastic material to pressure,-and forming sameinto an article of manufacture.

14, The process for forming a composition strip characterized by mixing a waterproof binder with cellular fibrous material containing particles of rubber, and incorporating said fibrous material in the heated, plastic, waterproof binder in successive stage -mix ing said material and presenting said mixed plastic material to pressure, and forming same into an article of manufacture.

15. The process for forming a composition strip comprising the mixing of a waterproof binder with fibrous material, said fibrous material having rubber 'in combination in its natural state, and incorporating said fibrous material in the heated, plastic, waterproof binder in successive stages, mixing said material and presenting said mixed plastic material to pressure, and forming into an article of manufacture.

16. The process for forming a composition strip characterized by utilizing a rubber containing fibrous material derived from a rubber containing shrub, shredding said rubber containing fibrous material and incorporating said rubber containing fibrous material in the heated, plastic, waterproof binder in successive stages, mixing said material and presenting said mixed plastic material to pressure, and forming same into an article of manufacture. V

' 17.; The process which consists in combining fibrous material, rubber and a waterproof binder in two operations, by mixing a waterproof binder with shredded material derived from a rubber bearing shrub, and incorporating said shredded material in a heated, plastic, waterproof binder in successive stages, mixing said material and presenting said mixed plastic material to pressure, and forming same into an article of manufacture.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this th day of November, 192 V ALBERT C. FISCHER. 

